U.S. patent application number 10/437429 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-12 for mobile phone being separated into handset and host phone which could be used as a pda and communication method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Lu, Yifeng.
Application Number | 20040029581 10/437429 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4595510 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040029581 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lu, Yifeng |
February 12, 2004 |
Mobile phone being separated into handset and host phone which
could be used as a PDA and communication method thereof
Abstract
The invention discloses a separated mobile phone comprises a
host-phone and a handset. The host-phone includes a wireless modem
module, a main controller, a control signal interface, a digital
audio interface, a low-power wireless transceiver module and a PDA
device. The handset comprises a main controller, a display, a
microphone, a speaker, a keyboard and a low-power wireless
transceiver module. The low-power wireless transceiver module in
host-phone can be set inside or outside. Communication modules
between the host-phone and handset use Bluetooth protocol or Home
Radio Frequency protocol. The host-phone and handset can access to
public switched telephone network through a home cordless
telephone.
Inventors: |
Lu, Yifeng; (Shenzhen,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Assignee: |
Huawei Technologies Co.,
Ltd.
Shenzhen
CN
|
Family ID: |
4595510 |
Appl. No.: |
10/437429 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10437429 |
May 14, 2003 |
|
|
|
PCT/CN01/01170 |
Jul 11, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/426.1 ;
455/462; 455/571 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2250/02 20130101;
H04M 1/0256 20130101; H04M 1/725 20130101; H04M 1/72412 20210101;
Y02D 30/70 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/426.1 ;
455/462; 455/571 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 18, 2000 |
CN |
00133068.3 |
Claims
1. A separated mobile phone with PDA function, the mobile phone
comprising a host-phone and a handset, and both are independent in
space: the host-phone including a wireless modem module, a main
controller, a control signal interface, a digital audio interface,
a low-power wireless transceiver module and a PDA device; the
wireless modem module, the control signal interface and the PDA
device being connected with the main controller, respectively; the
digital audio interface being connected with the wireless modem
module; the digital audio interface and the control signal
interface being connected with the low-power wireless transceiver
module, respectively; the handset including a main controller, a
display, a microphone, a speaker, a keyboard and a low-power
wireless transceiver module; the display, the microphone, speaker
and the low-power wireless transceiver module being connected to
the main controller, respectively; the keyboard being connected
with the low-power wireless transceiver module.
2. The separated mobile phone with PDA function according to claim
1, the low-power wireless transceiver module in the host-phone and
the handset is a Bluetooth protocol module.
3. The separated mobile phone with PDA function according to claim
1, the low-power wireless transceiver module in the host-phone and
the handset is a Home Radio Frequency protocol module.
4. The separated mobile phone with PDA function according to claim
1, the low-power wireless transceiver module of the host-phone is
outside the host-phone.
5. The separated mobile phone with PDA function according to claim
1, the low-power wireless transceiver module of the host-phone is
inside the host-phone.
6. The separated mobile phone with PDA function according to claim
1, working frequency between the host-phone and the handset of the
mobile phone is 2.4 GHz.
7. The separated mobile phone with PDA function according to claim
1, the control signal interface in the host-phone is a RS232
interface.
8. The separated mobile phone with PDA function according to claim
1, the control signal interface in the host-phone is an USB
interface.
9. A communication method of a separated mobile phone with PDA
function, comprising a sending method and a receiving method: the
sending method including: an audio signal coming from a microphone
of a handset, after having been processed by a main controller of
the handset, being sent to a low-power wireless transceiver module
for transmitting; the transmitted signal being received by a
low-power wireless transceiver module in a host-phone, and being
transferred to a wireless modem module through a digital audio
interface; after having been processed and modulated in the
wireless modem module, the signal being emitted in air; the
receiving method including: a signal coming from air, being
demodulated by the wireless modem module in the host-phone and
being recovered to an audio signal, which then being transferred to
the low-power wireless transceiver through the digital audio
interface; the recovered audio signal being modulated by the
low-power wireless transceiver and being transmitted to the handset
in a short distance; in the handset, the modulated audio signal
being received and demodulated to an audio signal by the low-power
wireless transceiver module; the audio signal being sent to the
speaker in the handset to output, under control of the main
controller of the handset; further including: a control command,
sent out by a keyboard in the handset, being first modulated by the
low-power wireless transceiver module, and then transmitted to the
low-power wireless transceiver module in the host-phone; in the
host-phone, the control command being solved by a control signal
interface and the main controller, then being modulated and emitted
to air by the wireless modem module; a control command coming from
air, being received and demodulated by the wireless modem module in
the host-phone; after having been passed through the main
controller and the control signal interface, the control command
being modulated and transmitted to the handset by the low-power
wireless transceiver module in the host-phone; in the handset, the
control command being received by the low-power wireless
transceiver module, and shown on a display after having been
processed by the main controller.
10. The communication method according to claim 9, the host-phone
and the handset of the mobile phone accessing to public switched
telephone network through a host-phone of cordless telephone.
Description
FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a mobile phone in
the wireless communication field, particularly to a mobile phone
separated into a handset and a host-phone with PDA function and
communication method between them.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is a development trend that size of a wireless terminal
is getting small, and functions of a wireless terminal are getting
strong. For example, personal digital assistance (PDA) function has
been added to a wireless terminal, so a wireless terminal can
record telephone numbers, recognize handwriting, transmit and
receive mails etc. In the future, functions, such as accessing to a
network and multimedia communication, will also be added. However,
all these add-on functions have some conflict with the basic
telephone function of a wireless terminal.
[0003] When adding the PDA function, it is required that a wireless
terminal has a bigger display panel in order to read a file, a
mail, or scan an image easily. The result is that the size of a
wireless terminal will be increased, and this will be inconvenient
for carrying and listening a telephone. Consequently, the add-on
PDA function affects the basic telephone function.
[0004] At present, for a wireless terminal with PDA function, some
with smaller display panel is inconvenient for reading, writing or
connecting to a network; some with bigger display panel is
inconvenient for grasping at hand to listen a telephone call.
Obviously, for the present wireless terminal, if PDA function is
further strengthened, the basic function, as a mobile phone, must
be affected. For example, increasing display panel size will make a
mobile phone being inconvenient for grasping at hand. If using a
hands-free earphone, usually it does not have ringing function. It
is inconvenient for grasping at hand, and has some trouble to
listen a phone call.
[0005] Besides, it is desired that a mobile phone can work with
telephone at home in complement. When a subscriber goes out, a
mobile phone is used for communication; when the subscriber is back
home, communication is automatically switched to the telephone at
home to save the communication cost.
[0006] A China Patent, numbered "98106704.2" and titled "Separated
Mobile Phone for Radiation Protection", discloses a technical
scheme of a separated mobile phone. In this technical scheme, a
mobile phone is divided (separated) into two parts: one has a
translator with emitting function; another one has a handset with
receiving function. Connection between the translator and the
handset can be wire mode or micro-power wireless mode. This
technical scheme solves the problem that emitting electromagnetic
wave with a larger power leaves the human brain far enough, i.e.,
the radiation protection problem. However, the technical scheme
does not solve the problem that adding on the PDA function in a
mobile phone conflicts with using convenience of a telephone
function in the mobile phone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The purpose of the invention is to provide a separated
mobile phone with PDA function and a communication method thereof.
The mobile phone is convenient for use and carrying. The mobile
phone solves conflict between using telephone conveniently and
adding on PDA function, which cause size of a mobile phone bigger.
In addition, the mobile phone solves complementary use of a mobile
phone and a telephone at home. Further, the mobile phone solves
radiation protection problem.
[0008] The invention is implemented with a technical scheme as
follow: a separated mobile phone comprises a host-phone and a
handset, and both are independent in space.
[0009] The host-phone comprises a wireless modem module, a main
controller, a control signal interface, a digital audio interface,
a low-power wireless transceiver module and a PDA device. The
wireless modem module, the control signal interface and the PDA
device are connected with the main controller, respectively. The
digital audio interface is connected with the wireless modem
module. The digital audio interface and the control signal
interface are connected with the low-power wireless transceiver
module, respectively.
[0010] The handset comprises a main controller, a display, a
microphone, a speaker, a keyboard and a low-power wireless
transceiver module. The display, the microphone, the speaker and
the low-power wireless transceiver module are connected to the main
controller, respectively. The keyboard is connected with the
low-power wireless transceiver module. The low-power wireless
transceiver module in the handset corresponds to the low-power
wireless transceiver module in the host-phone.
[0011] The invention is further implemented with a communication
method that includes a sending method and a receiving method for
communication between two separated parts of a mobile phone.
[0012] The sending method works as follow. An audio signal coming
from the microphone of the handset is sent to the low-power
wireless transceiver module for transmitting after having been
processed by the main controller. The transmitted signal is
received by the low-power wireless transceiver module in the
host-phone, and transferred to the wireless modem module through
the digital audio interface. After having been processed and
modulated in the wireless modem module, the signal is emitted in
the air.
[0013] The receiving method works as follow. A signal, coming from
the air, is demodulated by the wireless modem module in the
host-phone and recovered to an audio signal, which is then
transferred to the low-power wireless transceiver through the
digital audio interface. The recovered audio signal is modulated by
the low-power wireless transceiver and transmitted to the handset
in a short distance. In the handset, the modulated audio signal is
received and demodulated to an audio signal by the low-power
wireless transceiver module. Under control of the main controller,
the audio signal is sent to the speaker in the handset to
output.
[0014] A control command, sent out by the keyboard in the handset,
is first modulated by the low-power wireless transceiver module,
and then transmitted to the low-power wireless transceiver module
in the host-phone. In the host-phone, the control command is solved
by the control signal interface and the main controller, then it is
modulated and emitted to the air by the wireless modem module.
[0015] A control command, coming from the air, is received and
demodulated by the wireless modem module in the host-phone. After
having been passed through the main controller and the control
signal interface, the control command is modulated and transmitted
to the handset by the low-power wireless transceiver module in the
host-phone. In the handset, the low-power wireless transceiver
module receives the control command, and the display shows the
control command after having been processed by the main
controller.
[0016] Both low-power wireless transceiver modules in the
host-phone and the handset use the Bluetooth protocol or HomeRF
protocol.
[0017] The low-power wireless transceiver module in the host-phone
can be set inside or outside the host-phone.
[0018] It can be seen from the technical scheme, mentioned above,
the invention has the following advantages, which makes the
invention purpose to be reached.
[0019] 1) Since the host-phone includes a PDA device, the mobile
phone of the invention has functions of a general PDA product, such
as electronic notebook, handwriting input and electronic
dictionary. It can have functions, such as accessing to internet
with WAP/iMode, sending and receiving an email or a short message.
It can also have functions, such as receiving broadcast message,
image communication, videotext, sending and receiving facsimile,
etc.
[0020] 2) Since the handset includes a display, a microphone, a
speaker, a keyboard and a low-power wireless transceiver module,
the mobile phone of the invention has functions of a conventional
mobile phone, such as dialing, conversation, ringing, displaying a
call and listening rejection, etc. The handset of the mobile phone
can be set as a handset of a home cordless telephone. In addition,
since the handset pages the host-phone periodically, the mobile
phone has the function of stolen protection.
[0021] 3) Since the host-phone and the handset are separated and
the handset can control the host-phone, so it is possible to add-on
some more complicated functions in the host-phone without loosing
convenience.
[0022] 4) Since the low-power wireless transceiver modules in the
host-phone and the handset use the Bluetooth protocol or the HomeRF
protocol, the handset emitting power is very small, so it is
effectively reduced the radiation for human brain and is good for
human health.
[0023] 5) Since the handset can be set as a handset of a home
cordless telephone, so when a subscriber is at home, the fixed
telephone is used in priority to save the communication cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a logical diagram of a host-phone with inside
low-power wireless transceiver module.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a logical diagram of a host-phone with outside
low-power wireless transceiver module.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a logical diagram of a handset.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a principle diagram of a host-phone and handset
working in the invention.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The invention will be described in more detail, hereinafter,
with reference to drawings and embodiments.
[0029] In the invention, principle of the host-phone working and
the handset working is described in FIG. 4. A mobile phone of the
invention includes a host-phone (PDA+wireless Modem) 2 and a
handset 1. The handset 1 connects with a mobile communication
system (wireless communication network) 3, such as GSM/GPRS, WCDMA,
CDMA 2000, TD-SCDMA and UWC136, through host-phone 2 and its air
interface. When the handset 1 is set as a handset of a home
cordless telephone 4, the handset 1 connects with a wire
communication network 5 (public switched telephone network (PSTN))
through the host-phone of the cordless telephone 4. At the same
time, the host-phone 2 also can access to PSTN through the cordless
telephone 4. The handset 1 can implement dialing a phone call and
listening a phone call through the wireless communication such as
Bluetooth or HomeRF between the handset 1 and the host-phone 2. The
handset size can be smaller for carrying and listening easily. The
host-phone size can be larger for setting a larger display panel.
Since distance between the host-phone 2 and the handset 1 is
shorter, emission power can be very small.
[0030] Specifically, the mobile phone of the invention is
implemented with the following scheme.
[0031] Reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a mobile phone of the
invention is consisted of a separated host-phone 2 (as shown in
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) and a separated handset 1 (as shown in FIG.
3).
[0032] The host-phone 2 comprises a wireless modem module 21, a
main controller 22, a control signal interface 23, a digital audio
interface 24, a low-power wireless transceiver module 25 and a PDA
device 26. The wireless modem module 21, the control signal
interface 23 and the PDA device 26 are connected with the main
controller 22, respectively. The digital audio interface 24 is
connected with the wireless modem module 21. The digital audio
interface 24 and the control signal interface 23 are connected with
the low-power wireless transceiver module 25, respectively. The
wireless modem module 21 is connected with an antenna. The
low-power wireless transceiver module 25 of the host-phone 2 in
FIG. 1 is inside and the low-power wireless transceiver module 25
of the host-phone 2 in FIG. 2 is outside.
[0033] The handset 1 comprises a main controller 11, a liquid
crystal display (LCD) 12, a microphone 13, a speaker 14, a keyboard
15 and a low-power wireless transceiver module 16. The low-power
wireless transceiver module 16 corresponds to the lowpower wireless
transceiver module 25 in the host-phone 2. The LCD 12, the
microphone 13, the speaker 14 and the low-power wireless
transceiver module 16 are connected to the main controller 11,
respectively. The keyboard 15 is connected with the low-power
wireless transceiver module 16.
[0034] When the mobile phone is sending an audio signal, the audio
signal coming from the microphone 13 of handset 1 and having been
processed by the main controller 11, is sent to the low-power
wireless transceiver module 16 for transmitting. After the
transmitted signal has been received by the low-power wireless
transceiver module 25 in the host-phone 2, it is transferred to the
wireless modem module 21 through the digital audio interface 24.
After having been processed and modulated in the wireless modem
module 21, the signal is emitted in the air by the antenna.
[0035] When the mobile phone is receiving a signal, the signal
coming from the air, is demodulated by the wireless modem module 21
and recovered to an audio signal, which is then transferred to the
low-power wireless transceiver 25 through the digital audio
interface 24. The audio signal is modulated by the low-power
wireless transceiver 25 and transmitted to the handset 1 in a short
distance. In the handset 1, the modulated audio signal is
demodulated to an audio signal by the low-power wireless
transceiver module 16. The audio signal is sent to the speaker 14
for output, under control of the main controller.
[0036] When the mobile phone is sending a control command, the
control command sent out by the keyboard 15 in the handset 1, is
first modulated by the low-power wireless transceiver module 16,
and then transmitted to the low-power wireless transceiver module
25 in the host-phone 2. In the host-phone 2, the control command is
solved by the control signal interface 23 and the main controller
22, then it is modulated and emitted to the air by the wireless
modem module 21.
[0037] When the mobile phone is receiving a control command, the
control command coming from the air, is modulated and transmitted
to the handset 1 by the low-power wireless transceiver module 25 in
the host-phone, after having been passed through the wireless modem
module 21, the main controller 22 and the control signal interface
23. In the handset 1, the low-power wireless transceiver module 16
receives the control command, and the LCD displays the control
command after having been processed by the main controller 11.
[0038] The low-power wireless transceiver modules 25 and 16 can use
Bluetooth protocol or home radio frequency (HomeRF) protocol. The
working frequency between the host-phone 2 and the handset 1 is 2.4
GHz. Of course, other frequency can also be used.
[0039] The low-power wireless transceiver module 25 of host-phone 2
can be set inside or outside, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,
respectively.
[0040] The control signal interface 23 in host-phone 2 can be a
RS232 interface or a USB interface.
[0041] Bluetooth protocol is a protocol that provides short
distance wireless communication. Purpose of the protocol is to
replace cable connection between electronic equipment with a
wireless mode. The protocol can work at ISM frequency band
(Industrial, Scientific and Medical Frequency Band) without
application. When the protocol works at FDD (Frequency Division
Duplex) mode, the maximum emission power can reach 100 mw and
symbol rate is 1 Mb/s. The protocol provides "point to point" or
"point to multipoint" connection, and works at hopping frequency
mode and has about 10 meters communication distance.
[0042] HomeRF mode is a short distance communication mode based on
wireless LAN technology and DECT (Digital European Cordless
Telecommunication) technology. Purpose of the mode is to establish
a wireless local area network at home. The mode also can work at
ISM frequency band without application. Frame structure of the mode
is a mixture of TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) mode and CSMA
(Carrier Sense Multiple Access) mode, which is a combination of
DECT frame structure and wireless LAN frame structure. The mode
takes into account requirement of voice communication and
high-speed data communication, and can support six full-duplex
voice communications or a 2 Mb/s data communication. The HomeRF
mode also uses hopping frequency mode, and has an emission power of
100 mw and 50 meters communication distance. HomeRF will have a
bright application future for household appliances
communication.
[0043] In the invention mobile phone, the low-power wireless
transceiver modules in host-phone and handset use Bluetooth
protocol or HomeRF protocol so that the purpose of the invention
can be achieved.
[0044] In the invention, the mobile phone has the following
embodiments:
[0045] 1) The handset is a supplementary part of the host-phone,
and the interface unit (the low-power wireless transceiver module)
between the host-phone and the handset is integrated inside the
host-phone;
[0046] 2) The interface unit (the low-power wireless transceiver
module) between the host-phone and the handset is independent from
the host-phone in space, the low-POWER wireless transceiver module
is connected with the main controller of the host-phone by RS232 or
USB interface (the control signal interface), and the control
command uses AT command set. The microphone of the mobile phone
input an audio signal, and the speaker output an audio signal.
[0047] During using the mobile phone, a subscriber can keep the
host-phone in a carrying dispatch-case or pocket, and takes the
handset at hand. When a subscriber wants to call out, a callee
telephone number is directly dialed at the handset, and the handset
controls the host-phone to hook off and send out the telephone
number. When it has been connected, the subscriber uses directly
the handset to make conversation with the callee. When there is a
call in, the handset rings and displays the caller telephone
number, and the subscriber uses the handset to listen the call
directly.
[0048] When there are an image or a document to be transferred, a
subscriber uses the PDA function at the host-phone, and a call can
be switched to the host-phone. When the host-phone is in a wait
state, the handset can page the host-phone periodically. If there
is no acknowledgement, the handset will alarm to warn the
subscriber that the host-phone may be lost or stolen.
[0049] When a subscriber is at home, the host-phone or handset can
be connected to the home cordless telephone, automatically or
manually. When the subscriber wants to use a telephone or access to
a network, using the cordless telephone to access to PSTN is
priority.
* * * * *